Office of the Historian

96. Notes of Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Packard)1 2

Washington, May 6, 1969, 10:40 a.m.

K said he was calling Mel but could not reach him and asked if P was familiar with Seabed problem. P said just vaguely.K said Mel opposed it at NSC but called K after and said if we had to proceed he would like to make sure it contained some amendments. K said he wondered if he could get these changes. P said the main thing is that there is nothing in the draft that would jeopardize their underwater capability. K said President will probably go ahead with treaty but on the condition that Gerry Smith puts into the draft the changes Defense wants. P asked when K wanted it and K said by tomorrow morning. K said he is seeing Gerry Smith at 6:00p tomorrow night at his office. President wants K to negotiate this. P said K would have them by morning.

  1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 359, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, 1–14 May 1969. No classification marking.↩
  2. Kissinger told Packard the President would probably go ahead with the treaty if Smith put into the draft the changes that DOD wanted.↩